Louise Brooks: A Biography [Paperback]

Barry Paris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2000

Film

The long-awaited republication of this captivating account of the star's life.

Louise Brooks left Wichita, Kansas, for New York City at age fifteen and lived the kind of life of which legends are made. From her beginnings as a dancer to her years in Hollywood, Berlin, and beyond, she was hailed and reviled as a new type of woman: independent, intellectually daring, and sexually free. In this widely acclaimed, first and only comprehensive biography, Barry Paris traces Brooks's trajectory from her childhood through her fall into obscurity and subsequent "resurrection" as a brilliant writer and enduring film icon.

"Star biographies don't get any better than Barry Paris's Louise Brooks." USA Today

"This account has the aphrodisiac gloss of Brooks herself: you meet the stare of a modern icon, a picture that taunts your inability to touch the real thing. A necessary and stimulating book, it is itself an important part of Brooks's life after death." The New Republic

"Absorbing, wonderfully well researched and, all in all, an exemplar of its kind." London Spectator

"Louise Brooks is not simply a summary of her movie plots and love affairs but a serious work of film and social history." New York Magazine

Barry Paris is an award-winning biographer, film and music critic, and contributor to the New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and other publications. He lives in Pittsburgh.

Translation Inquiries: Alfred A. Knopf

Editorial Reviews

Review

A sensational work—it’s a wow! -- Liz Smith, New York Daily News

Great, provocative reading. -- Leonard Maltin, ABC-TV Entertainment Tonight

The much-talked-about Louise Brooks is a synthesis of exhaustive research, written with imaginative sympathy. -- Premiere magazine

From The Washington Post

Fascinating not only for what it says about Brooks, but also for its generous sidelights on the whole jazz-and-flapper age.

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press; 1 edition (July 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816637814
• ISBN-13: 978-0816637812
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.2 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #378,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Star Biography Written July 28, 2004

By D. A Wend TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is arguably the best biography of a film star. Barry Paris has investigated the tempestuous life of Louise Brooks so thoroughly that any other volume on her life would pale by comparison. The book is well written and goes into great detail about Louise Brooks' life and why she seemed to make her suicidal career choices. Mr. Paris also provides his readers with a good background to the world of Louise Brooks. We learn about modern dance when discussing Brooks' invitation to join Denishawn dancers, about George White and the Scandals and Ziegfeld and his Follies when Brooks danced for them and about the silent film world and the struggles of the industry to cope with the advent of sound.

Mr. Paris delves deeply into Louise Brooks' relationship with her family and lovers, and devotes a wonderful chapter on G. W. Pabst and the making of Pandora's Box. While reading the book, I was drawn to see her films and enjoyed them much more with the insight provided by Mr. Paris. The working relationship between the actors involved in Pandora's Box was particularly illuminating and I had a greater appreciation of Louise Brooks' performance.

The most tantalizing aspect of Louise Brooks is her career suicide. One wonders how she could have so casually ended her career in films when she was an up-and-coming star. She was equally difficult with her dancing partners when she briefly returned to professional dancing, and even her the vain attempts to work as a store clerk. Louise Brooks had an astonishing intellect, so much so that many of the men in her life felt threatened by her but despite her intelligence she was never able to find a satisfying life for herself. Eventually, she found a kind of niche in her writing. Mr. Paris examines all of her contradictions thoughtfully but does not present a definitive conclusion. I liked the way the biography stuck to presenting the life of Louise Brooks without any attempt to moralize or judge; the facts and background are left for the reader to contemplate. I found the book very thought provoking.

The book is nicely illustrated, including a short gallery of Louise Brooks' best portraits. This is a fascinating biography of a natural actress who had a loathing for the profession; a woman who could be a good friend and equally suddenly turn against them. This is a book that should not be missed even if someone does not have an interest in silent films.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Film Star Biography Ever! August 29, 2000

By "louise14868"

Format:Paperback

In this fascinating book, Barry Paris paints a portrait of a remarkable woman, warts and all. Unlike many of the many biographies which only serve to inflate a stars already massive ego, this gives you the full story of one of the silent screens most interesting stars - and one whose fame was sadly short lived. Louise Brooks never followed the Hollywood rules, but in doing so ensured that her name would be remembered for more than just her acting. Barry Paris presents her story in a way which makes you want to read on, just to see what Louise does next! If you buy just one book this year, make it this...

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Excellent September 19, 2000

By Derek Hartley

Format:Paperback

The Barry Paris biography of Louise Brooks is a harrowing, riveting and brilliant recollection of an obscure but genius silent film star. The wit, venom and power of Louise Brooks as an author, actor, and person are brought to light in this accessible and entertaining book. It is the bible for all fans of Louise Brooks and should be required reading for anyone with an interest in Hollywood, silent film, dance, and the fine art of celebrity. If you have half a brain and can get one eye open, this is the book for you.